Question 1: In which part of the world would you find the Gobi Desert?
Question 2: Which scientist is most closely associated with the Theory of Relativity?
Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity revolutionized the understanding of space, time, and gravity. The theory is divided into two parts: the special theory of relativity and the general theory of relativity. He introduced the famous equation E=mc^2, representing the equivalence of energy (E) and mass (m).
Question 3: How often does the U.S. Federal Reserve meet to discuss monetary policy?
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the U.S. Federal Reserve typically meets eight times a year in order to evaluate current economic conditions and make decisions about monetary policy.
Question 4: Where was the compass invented?
The compass was invented by ancient Chinese around the 4th century BC, initially used for divination, fortune-telling and geomancy, and later found applications in navigation by the 11th century.
Question 5: If you frequently use the abbreviation "HTML" in computing, what does it stand for?
HTML stands for "HyperText Markup Language". It's the primary language used to write web pages. Hypertext refers to links that connect web pages to one another, either within a single website or between websites, and markup language is used to annotate text so that the computer can manipulate that text.
Question 6: In agriculture, what are "legumes" best known for?
Legumes have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their root nodules that allows them to fix atmospheric nitrogen, converting it into a form that can be used by plants. This process contributes to soil fertility, making legumes a valuable crop in agricultural systems.
Question 7: What is the term for a piece of orchestral music that is usually played at the beginning of an opera?
An overture is an orchestral work played before the curtain rises in an opera. While it often introduces musical themes from the opera, it can also be a standalone piece.
Question 8: What is the name given to a mature tropical cyclone in the North Atlantic Ocean, Central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific?
Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones are all essentially the same type of weather phenomenon known as a tropical cyclone. The terms are used differently based on their location: "hurricane" in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, "typhoon" in the Northwest Pacific, and "cyclone" in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Question 9: Why did the Phantom of the Opera wear a mask?
In the Musical "Phantom of the Opera," the Phantom, also named Erik, wears a mask to conceal a severe facial deformity. The story was originally a French novel by Gaston Leroux before being adapted into a popular musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Question 10: How many time zones does Russia span?
Russia is the largest country in the world by land area, spanning 11 time zones from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka.
The Gobi Desert is located in Asia, extending across Southern Mongolia and Northern China. Despite being a desert, it can experience freezing temperatures and even snow in the winter.